Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club saved from closure

'WE'VE done it' was the delighted message from campaigners fighting to save the indoor bowls club in Norton.

Ryedale District councillors supported the sale of the facility to Ryedale Community and Leisure Centre (RCLC), which was set up with the backing of more than 500 individual users, as well as clubs and organisations, for £350,000, at a meeting of the full council last week.

Members had voted to sell the site in 2012 after a report stated that the club’s survival had only been secured by the council halving the annual rent to £10,000.

Councillor Di Keal, a district and town councillor, said: ""I am absolutely delighted that Ryedale District Council finally saw the sense in agreeing to sell the building to a community group who will bring it back to life as a fantastic facility that will bring long term benefits to the community.

"It has been hard work getting to this point - from registering the building as a Community Asset through to funding the bid - but I am convinced that with our new tenants, who are incredibly enthusiastic about the project, alongside indoor bowling we have come up with a win:win situation and the building has a very bright future."

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Coun Keal said the building would still be home to indoor bowling, with currently around 150 members, but it will also become a new base for Norton dance school, Dance Expression, and Brooklyn pre-school playgroup.

"We estimate that this will bring well over 500 people into the building on a weekly basis," she added.

"We have also secured a new catering and entertainment company that will take over the running of the function suite, which will still be used by a wide range of local voluntary groups alongside being available for parties, weddings and other events.

"All our tenants have agreed to invest their own funds in to the building to ensure it's success which is testament to their long term commitment to the future of the Centre. This is also evidenced by their intention to take on long term leases with RCLC."

In a report to members of the full council, chief executive Janet Waggott, said the sale would deliver a a capital receipt to the authority from a site which was not achieving a market rent and create a sustainable community facility which included the continued provision of indoor bowls.

They were told that on completion of the sale a payment of £100,000 would be made, followed by a second instalment of £130,000 between July and September.

The outstanding £120,000 would be paid by instalments over a 10-year period, with an interest rate of two per cent.

Coun Keal said she would like to pay tribute to the committee for all it's work, especially chairman John Harrison who has worked incredibly hard to pull together a funding package alongside his right hand man Jim Everitt.

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"I would also like to thank my colleagues on Norton Town Council who applied to register the building as a Community Asset which really got the ball rolling and each and everyone of the bowlers and other supporters who have stuck with us over the past months and believed in what we have now achieved," she added.

"We are all looking forward to seeing the building open and being well used later this year".

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Comments (8)

Great stuff, even if it took RDC 2 years to see the light ,which most people would have seen before they uttered a word. Another reason to see RDC evaporate into a new unitary authority after the next general election. When will this self serving meritocracy be put to the knife . Soon, hopefully.

Great stuff, even if it took RDC 2 years to see the light ,which most people would have seen before they uttered a word.
Another reason to see RDC evaporate into a new unitary authority after the next general election.
When will this self serving meritocracy be put to the knife .
Soon, hopefully.browbeaten

Great stuff, even if it took RDC 2 years to see the light ,which most people would have seen before they uttered a word. Another reason to see RDC evaporate into a new unitary authority after the next general election. When will this self serving meritocracy be put to the knife . Soon, hopefully.

Score: 1

twotonethomas says...9:01am Thu 22 May 14

As one of the Liberal (not Lib Dem) group on RDC who never wanted to sell the bowls club can I just point out a couple of things. These people are celebrating being forced to buy a building that they, as RDC taxpayers, already owned! And it would be a more honest reflection of the sale to point out that it was sold for only £250,000 not £350,000. The other £100,000 will be paid over the next ten years, just as the old RIBC would have paid £100,000 in rent over the same period!

As one of the Liberal (not Lib Dem) group on RDC who never wanted to sell the bowls club can I just point out a couple of things.
These people are celebrating being forced to buy a building that they, as RDC taxpayers, already owned!
And it would be a more honest reflection of the sale to point out that it was sold for only £250,000 not £350,000. The other £100,000 will be paid over the next ten years, just as the old RIBC would have paid £100,000 in rent over the same period!twotonethomas

As one of the Liberal (not Lib Dem) group on RDC who never wanted to sell the bowls club can I just point out a couple of things. These people are celebrating being forced to buy a building that they, as RDC taxpayers, already owned! And it would be a more honest reflection of the sale to point out that it was sold for only £250,000 not £350,000. The other £100,000 will be paid over the next ten years, just as the old RIBC would have paid £100,000 in rent over the same period!

Score: 1

browbeaten says...9:06pm Thu 22 May 14

Firstly why does twotonethomas if he is a councilor use an alias. Lets hope after the next election this bunch of parish councilors on overpaid expenses along with overpaid staff are air brushed from the records of modern history and a Supermarket is built on the site of ryedale house. Problem solved. Bring on a county wide unitary council Do away with rank amatuers.

Firstly why does twotonethomas if he is a councilor use an alias.
Lets hope after the next election this bunch of parish councilors on overpaid expenses along with overpaid staff are air brushed from the records of modern history and a Supermarket is built on the site of ryedale house. Problem solved.
Bring on a county wide unitary council
Do away with rank amatuers.browbeaten

Firstly why does twotonethomas if he is a councilor use an alias. Lets hope after the next election this bunch of parish councilors on overpaid expenses along with overpaid staff are air brushed from the records of modern history and a Supermarket is built on the site of ryedale house. Problem solved. Bring on a county wide unitary council Do away with rank amatuers.

Score: -1

twotonethomas says...10:23pm Thu 22 May 14

If people who hide behind aliases bothered to check RDC expenses on line, they would see that I've never claimed a single penny in expenses in 7 yrs as a District Councillor. Oh and I won't accept an I-pad at tax payers expense either.

If people who hide behind aliases bothered to check RDC expenses on line, they would see that I've never claimed a single penny in expenses in 7 yrs as a District Councillor.
Oh and I won't accept an I-pad at tax payers expense either.twotonethomas

If people who hide behind aliases bothered to check RDC expenses on line, they would see that I've never claimed a single penny in expenses in 7 yrs as a District Councillor. Oh and I won't accept an I-pad at tax payers expense either.

Score: 3

browbeaten says...6:23pm Fri 23 May 14

So who is two tone thomas, in layman's terms ? I don't act as an elected member of the council so i can suit myself If you are a councillor why not disclose it the electorate of ,ryedale awaits. There again this is ryedale council we are talking that lets its offcials dictate the agenda !

So who is two tone thomas, in layman's terms ? I don't act as an elected member of the council so i can suit myself
If you are a councillor why not disclose it the electorate of ,ryedale awaits.
There again this is ryedale council we are talking that lets its offcials dictate the agenda !browbeaten

So who is two tone thomas, in layman's terms ? I don't act as an elected member of the council so i can suit myself If you are a councillor why not disclose it the electorate of ,ryedale awaits. There again this is ryedale council we are talking that lets its offcials dictate the agenda !

Score: -3

twotonethomas says...8:22pm Fri 23 May 14

So who is twotonethomas? Well we know that he's one of 5 Liberals on RDC, only one of whom is called Thomas. Do you want 50:50, ask the audience or do you wish to phone a friend?

So who is twotonethomas?
Well we know that he's one of 5 Liberals on RDC, only one of whom is called Thomas.
Do you want 50:50, ask the audience or do you wish to phone a friend?twotonethomas

So who is twotonethomas? Well we know that he's one of 5 Liberals on RDC, only one of whom is called Thomas. Do you want 50:50, ask the audience or do you wish to phone a friend?

Score: 2

Stewart says...7:08am Sat 24 May 14

Thomas, this Browbeaten character is a wum with an obsession in seeing RDC closed down. Like all obsessions they become irrational. We might not agree on everything but one thing I can say is that you can hold your head high as far as being a councillor goes.

Thomas, this Browbeaten character is a wum with an obsession in seeing RDC closed down. Like all obsessions they become irrational. We might not agree on everything but one thing I can say is that you can hold your head high as far as being a councillor goes.Stewart

Thomas, this Browbeaten character is a wum with an obsession in seeing RDC closed down. Like all obsessions they become irrational. We might not agree on everything but one thing I can say is that you can hold your head high as far as being a councillor goes.

Score: 1

growthorgreed says...3:04pm Sat 24 May 14

twotonethomas wrote…

So who is twotonethomas? Well we know that he's one of 5 Liberals on RDC, only one of whom is called Thomas. Do you want 50:50, ask the audience or do you wish to phone a friend?

Might be a bit difficult for him to phone a friend.....

[quote][p][bold]twotonethomas[/bold] wrote:
So who is twotonethomas?
Well we know that he's one of 5 Liberals on RDC, only one of whom is called Thomas.
Do you want 50:50, ask the audience or do you wish to phone a friend?[/p][/quote]Might be a bit difficult for him to phone a friend.....growthorgreed

twotonethomas wrote…

So who is twotonethomas? Well we know that he's one of 5 Liberals on RDC, only one of whom is called Thomas. Do you want 50:50, ask the audience or do you wish to phone a friend?

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